Rose screamed though she wasn't heard, for by that time, a fearsome battle cry sounded from the forest. It seemed as though the trees were attacking, for shapes the men all had assumed were inanimate suddenly sprung to life as human beings painted and camouflaged like the child Ben and Rose had just seen emerged with spears and darts flying, encircling the crew.

After Ben was hit, several more men were struck, falling to the ground, lifeless. Jack thrust his arm in front of Rose as the remaining men drew their swords and guns, firing and swinging wildly for their lives. The memory is a blur for Rose because this was the moment that life began to move at double the speed for her. She watched as Jack parried with large man, while a pirate next to her fell, a spear through his abdomen. Jack pushed away his attacker, then took the moment to examine his surroundings quickly. He found the one spot in the ambush circle that was empty, and thrust Rose forcefully into the underbrush. She was soon engulfed in green foliage, but not completely hidden. Rose looked up through the brush. "GO ROSE!" Jack yelled. She stumbled backward and tripped over a tree root. She continued to crawl backwards, hot tears and rogue branches stinging her face. Rose wanted to scream in agony and confusion. What had just happened? Why was Ben dead? What would become of the rest?

The rest!

Her sides heaving with grief and adrenaline, she started to crawl back silently in the opposite direction, back to the group. Maybe there was a way she could save the rest of them, if it wasn't too late already. If she could draw their attention and have them make chase after her, then perhaps the crew could get back to the ship...

Rose was nearing the ambush site. Suddenly, a shot rang out and she froze.

"EH! EH! Ka timi loozoo? Isipi!" she heard Jack cry. Rose heard several "ooh's" from the area. She neared closer, on her stomach. As she peered through the vines, she could just barely make out the scene; Jack, Joshamee, Cotton without his parrot, Marty, Leech and many of his friends remained. Ben and the other half of the men were dead on the ground. Their weapons were sheathed, as Jack held his pistol high above his head, shouting in their native tongue. "Kama lama insipi zutu, savvy?" When they didn't reply, he continued, "Say say lo tiki tiki."

Several looked to one another, nodding and murmuring, "Lo tiki tiki."

The large man Jack had been fighting said something to another of his men and asked something of Jack, motioning to the crew. "I ta?" Jack said. "No no no! Fi fi say shookoo koh toh me wah say."

The man then gave orders to the group, seeming pleased. Two women escorted Jack gently into the green darkness, where they quickly disappeared. That is when Rose noticed how many indigenous people there actually were. Two grabbed each living crew member by the arms and dragged them after the women and Jack, but Gibbs was the last to be led away. Rose watched as he quickly broke the twine wrapped around the mouth of the flask he carried with him at all times and strung it out to lay over the foliage leading towards the trail where the others had disappeared. Gibbs was no fool- he knew Rose had escaped and was laying a trail for her to find them later on. Rose made a mental note of this while watching three native men carried each of the deceased, including Ben. Fresh tears formed and Rose opened her mouth, silently sobbing as he disappeared behind the others. Soon they were all gone. Quiet was once more in this part of the jungle, or so she thought. Yet there were more islanders, a thin, tall man ordering a group of ten to do something. As she observed, she saw the same child, their betrayer, telling the others a detailed account. She saw on his fingers that he counted out twenty three— exactly the number in her group. He then counted twenty two out as he talked, then showing the others that there was one more left—Rose. She started to hastily retreat back into the greenery, noticing that the tall man was ordering the group to stay in the area. Rose began to move back further, but the weight of her body snapped a twig, creating a sharp crack. A man standing nearest to her turned in her direction. She couldn't move. After a moment his attention went back to the group, but Rose couldn't even breathe a sign of relief, for she was still in the utmost danger.

After awhile they began to set up a trap for her. Laying a hand woven string that triggered some sort of pulley overhead, if Rose were to walk into it, she would be hoisted by her leg into the air, helpless. The orders then were given for the group to hide in the foliage for her to reappear. Her heart began to race. What if one of them stumbled upon her, literally. She couldn't move or they would most definitely hear her. She was stuck, and she had to take her chances and wait. But what was she waiting for? Jack might have bought some time declaring himself as chief, but the rest of the crew were almost certainly going to be killed. Rose found herself wondering if she could man a ship like the Pearl by herself.

By herself. She was all alone. Alone with about a dozen island people who killed the people she knew, as well as her deepest love. This couldn't be the end to her destiny. It couldn't.

Ultimately, she decided that she was hidden enough as she relaxed her body into the moist soil. Her only comfort was that it was cool where she laid. She softly cried to herself, until the sounds of the jungle ultimately lulled her into a tormented sleep.


Rose dreamt again, only this time it was a new nightmare. Fire consumed her legs and burned hotter than she could ever imagine. Her ears began to swell with screams and yells, whooping and cries, as though people were celebrating her burning.

All of a sudden she awoke, realizing that the cheers she was hearing were really happening. Blinking awake, she had almost hoped the entire event was a dream, but quickly remembered where she was. It took her awhile to see the Englishman, a young man, tied up in the trap that was designed for herself. He swung his sword wildly and yelled insults at them. There was something familiar about him. He flung his body towards the islanders standing in front of her and she caught a brief glimpse of his face.

Will Turner.

Rose gasped out loud in spite of herself, and watched helplessly as a man opposite her blew a dart in Will's throat and he went limp. His sword fell to the ground. He most assuredly was dead. Once more, fresh tears formed. They took his body down and tied him like a roast pig to a pole. Then, all twelve disappeared the same way the others did.

A fearsome anger boiled inside her. She was NOT going to be the sole survivor on this journey as she watched people around her get slaughtered and taken away. As soon as she heard their footsteps subside, Rose ran to the center of the clearing and grabbed Will's sword for protection, rushing in the same way they went. She followed the path for some time, as it made way to open air, into caverns, and back into foliage. Soon, the path was gone and a wall of leaves and vines was all there was. She started to cut through angrily, at this point careless if she lived or died.

It was no use. They must have pushed through as they ascended up the mountain, not even leaving a trace.

Rose collapsed in a heap, now sobbing uncontrollably as she had wanted to do for hours now. This wasn't fair. How could this have happened? Rose had so many plans. Every ounce of her being told her that she would spend the rest of her life with Ben. Even Tia had told her that she would marry a dead man. The only way this could possibly be was if she meant Ben, who at one time was dead. But Ben never felt even a third of the affection Rose felt for him. And now it was too late. He was gone forever.

Her heart was content to grieve where she sat, but what was left of her rational mind told her to go on, to keep searching. Yet she found herself walking in the direction whence she just came, back to the clearing, through the cleared jungle and back to the beach. Rose had no idea what she was going to do. Even if it was clear that no one was coming back, it was unlikely that she could get that ship out to open sea by herself. But as she approached the starboard side of the vessel, she realized why she was here. If she could get aboard and create a diversion, maybe it could buy enough time for the survivors, if there were any left, to make an escape.

Rose climbed up the side of the ship with relative ease. The tide was much higher, splashing up near half of the body. However, she was quickly disoriented by the extreme angle to which the ship was positioned. Leaning toward to starboard side, Rose walked on the elevated boards. Her tears had stopped, but she was so exhausted and overwhelmed, all emotion was void.

Entering the crew's bunks, Rose walked through to the corner where Ben had once slept. All that remained of his life was a faulty pistol and a bundle of clothing. Wrapping his items in his hammock, Rose walked back to the edge of the back of the ship, then released the bundle into the ocean. An improper burial by many standards, but it gave her at least an ounce of closure.

She watched them sink into the ocean, lower, lower. Lower? This meant that the tide was quite high now. If this kept up, the ship could easily sail away. Rose looked to the horizon, reaching into the recesses of her mind to formulate a plan. When she did so, she noticed a rowboat approaching. Quite close now, with two men aboard...two men and a dog. Suddenly a large wave tipped the contents and the soggy rowboat was pulled up on shore and the two men laughed and danced giddily about around the ship, supposing that it was abandoned. Rose ran to the brig and grabbed weapons, deciding to ambush the thieves once they were onboard. Perhaps she could arrange an agreement that the three of them together could man the ship, at least until arriving at civilization. Perhaps Rose could declare herself their captain. In spite of the anguish Rose felt, she found herself smiling. Oh, the power she suddenly found herself with. She took a seat on the larboard side of the ship, hidden behind a crate, watching the madness ensue.